Stephan Bonnar

2022 - 12 - 25

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Image courtesy of "ESPN"

UFC Hall of Famer Stephan Bonnar dies at age 45 (ESPN)

Stephan Bonnar, whose 2005 fight with Forrest Griffin helped launch the UFC into the mainstream, died at age 45, the UFC announced.

Griffin would also go on to win the UFC light heavyweight belt. Griffin won the fight via unanimous decision to earn a six-figure UFC contract. Bonnar and Griffin were both inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2013.

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Image courtesy of "TMZ"

UFC Hall of Famer Stephan Bonnar Dead at 45 (TMZ)

UFC's Stephan Bonnar passed away due to presumed heart complications, according to the organization.

Bonnar's legacy will be that he was one of the catalysts to help UFC grow into what it is today ... In addition to MMA fighting, Bonnar also wrestled professionally ... Bonnar was an OG in UFC ... "The UFC family is saddened by the tragic passing of UFC Hall of Famer Stephan Bonnar Thursday from presumed heart complications while at work." He also fought with Bellator MMA post-UFC. competing in the very first season of 'The Ultimate Fighter' back in 2005 ... and in 2012, he retired. He fought Griffin again in a rematch, and went on to fight some big names in the sport thereafter ... "His fight with Forrest Griffin changed the sport forever, and he will never be forgotten. The UFC broke the news Saturday, writing ... He will be missed." this according to the MMA promotion itself.

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Stephan Bonnar, UFC Hall of Famer, dead at 45 of complications ... (Yahoo Sports)

Stephan Bonnar, whose fight with Forrest Griffin in the first The Ultimate Fighter finale remains one of the greatest in UFC history, died Thursday at 45.

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Stephan Bonnar Dies at Age 45; UFC Hall of Famer Competed on ... (Bleacher Report)

"Stephan Bonnar was one of the most important fighters to ever compete in the Octagon," said UFC President Dana White. "His fight with Forrest Griffin changed ...

Bonnar didn't match the heights of his first fight ever again, going just 8-7 in 15 fights with UFC. Nicknamed The American Psycho, Bonnar had a 13-year career in mixed martial arts from 2001-14. "His fight with Forrest Griffin changed the sport forever, and he will never be forgotten.

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Stephan Bonnar, TUF 1 finalist and UFC Hall of Famer, dead at 45 (MMA Fighting)

The UFC announced Bonnar's death on Saturday, and a separate law enforcement source with knowledge of the situation confirmed to MMA Fighting Bonnar died on Dec ...

[Forrest Griffin](https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/44/forrest-griffin). Bonnar and Griffin were inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in July 2013 for their fight. He made the show’s finals and fought The UFC announced Bonnar’s death on Saturday, and a separate law enforcement source with knowledge of the situation confirmed to MMA Fighting Bonnar died on Dec. Bonnar’s wife, Andrea Brown, posted on Facebook that the couple “lost everything” in the blaze. “His fight with Forrest Griffin changed the sport forever, and he will never be forgotten.

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UFC Hall of Famer Stephan Bonnar dead at 45; MMA community ... (MMA Junkie)

Stephan Bonnar, one half of one of the most legendary fights in UFC history is dead at age 45, the promotion announced Saturday.

What's undeniable is the pivotal role it played helping to usher in the 'UFC on Spike' era, which in turn altered the sport forever. [@StephanBonnar]was always a class act whenever I got a chance to talk to him. Stephan Bonnar may very well be the most important fighter in UFC history to never win a UFC title as one half of the iconic TUF 1 finale with Forrest Griffin. But he was also SO kind and fun to work with. Stephan Bonnar—You had the heart of a thousand men. RIP to a great friend and Fighter. The first time I ever heard of mixed martial arts was when I was 14 and saw the first ultimate fighter. [December 24, 2022] We send our sincerest condolences to his family and friends. Many fighters, promoters, fans, and loved ones flocked to social media Saturday to mourn the loss of a UFC pioneer. In April 2022, Bonnar had more struggles outside the cage when [his house burned down](https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2022/04/mma-news-ufc-hall-of-famer-stephan-bonnar-lost-everything-in-house-fire). Bonnar parted ways with the promotion after a failed drug test and claimed retirement.

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Image courtesy of "Mirror.co.uk"

Stephan Bonnar dead: UFC legend dies aged 45 as MMA world ... (Mirror.co.uk)

Bonnar was a finalist in first series of The Ultimate Fighter with his clash with Forrest Griffin sparking a huge increase in interest in mixed martial ...

His fight with Forrest Griffin changed the landscape of the sport of MMA and pushed it to the next level. "His fight with Forrest Griffin changed the sport forever, and he will never be forgotten. Bonnar lost the light-heavyweight clash but recovered to win his next three fights in the UFC. “Lost everything, house is done,” Bonnar said at the time. Bonnar later turned his hand to professional wrestling and made several appearances for Impact Wrestling. Bonnar is widely credited with sparking an explosion of interest in mixed martial arts thanks to his rivalry with Forrest Griffin.

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Image courtesy of "Daily Mail"

Dana White pays tribute to UFC legend Stephan Bonnar after he ... (Daily Mail)

Former UFC star Stephan Bonnar has passed away at just 45 years old due to complications of the heart. The UFC took to social media to announce the news on ...

He competed on the first season of The Ultimate Fighter in 2005, and in the finals, he and Griffin fought in one of the most legendary fights ever. Bonnar fought the likes of Anderson Silva during his 14-fight career in the UFC - Bonnar fought Forrest Griffin in one of the biggest fights in UFC history

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Stephan Bonnar dies at 45: UFC Hall of Famer 'one of the most ... (CBSSports.com)

Bonnar died of presumed heart complications while at work, according to UFC, which announced his death. Both inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2013, Bonnar ...

Both inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2013, Bonnar and Forrest Griffin are credited for helping UFC -- and mixed martial arts as a whole -- gain mainstream notoriety following their fight on "The Ultimate Fighter" reality show. He also spent some time with Impact Wrestling in 2019. Bonnar fought multiple other fellow Hall of Famers, including Mark Coleman, Rashad Evans, Tito Ortiz and Anderson Silva.

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'Heartbreaking loss': UFC legend dead at 45 (Fox Sports)

UFC Hall of Famer Stephan Bonnar has died at the age of 45. The UFC confirmed the heartbreaking news on social media, leaving fighters and fans across the MMA ...

UFC analyst Megan Anderson wrote: “Stephan Bonnar vs Forrest Griffin was the first mma fight I ever watched, and it completely changed my life. Current UFC fighter Kyle Nelson wrote: “The first time I ever heard of mixed martial arts was when I was 14 and saw the first ultimate fighter. The finale between Stephan and Forrest saved the UFC from going under. It is so incredibly heartbreaking to hear the news of Stephan’s passing. We send our sincerest condolences to his family and friends,” the UFC tweeted. UFC Hall of Famer Stephan Bonnar dies at the age of 45

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Stephan Bonnar Dies: UFC Hall Of Famer Was 45 (Deadline)

“Stephan Bonnar was one of the most important fighters to ever compete in the Octagon,” UFC President Dana White said in a statement. “His fight with Forrest ...

Bonnar was a native of Indiana where he started wrestling at the age of 10. At the age of 24, he started boxing. And that was in the second round. It was his bout against Forrest Griffin that had fans glued to television screens which is regarded as one of the best fights of all time. “His fight with Forrest Griffin changed the sport forever, and he will never be forgotten. We send our sincerest condolences to his family and friends,” the UFC announced on Instagram.

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Image courtesy of "USA TODAY"

UFC Hall of Famer Stephan Bonnar dies at 45 (USA TODAY)

Stephan Bonnar, who earned a spot in the UFC Hall of Fame as one half of one of the most legendary fights in promotion history, has died at 45.

Many fighters, promoters, fans, and loved ones flocked to social media Saturday to mourn the loss of a UFC pioneer. In April 2022, Bonnar had more struggles outside the cage when [his house burned down](https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2022/04/mma-news-ufc-hall-of-famer-stephan-bonnar-lost-everything-in-house-fire). Bonnar parted ways with the promotion after a failed drug test and claimed retirement. Bonnar competed 26 times as a professional, with 15 UFC appearances and one for Bellator. "His fight with Forrest Griffin changed the sport forever, and he will never be forgotten. [the fight many credit with turning around a then-struggling UFC](https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2020/04/forrest-griffin-vs-stephan-bonnar-ufc-tuf-finale-today-in-mma-history).

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Image courtesy of "The Irish Sun"

Stephan Bonnar dead at 45: UFC Hall of Famer and MMA legend ... (The Irish Sun)

AN MMA legend known for fighting one of the most important rounds in UFC history has died of presumed heart complications.Ultimate Fighting Championsh.

[The-sun.com](http://the-sun.com/) is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, sports news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see videos. "I didn't think I'd have a UFC career. The American Psycho closed the book on his professional MMA career for a second and final time shortly after losing to his fellow UFC great. "I knew it was a good fight during the fight," Bonnar previously said. "Stephan Bonnar was one of the most important fighters to ever compete in the Octagon," UFC President Dana White said in a According to UFC, the fight may have saved the company after it introduced cage fighting to a new generation of fans.

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UFC legend Stephan Bonnar dead at 45 (WOKV)

Stephan Bonnar, a UFC Hall of Famer who helped launch the promotion into the mainstream with his 2005 fight against Forrest Griffin in the first season of ...

Despite his loss to Griffin, Bonnar won his next three bouts, the newspaper reported. He made his pro debut in 2001 and entered the UFC with a 7-1 record. [Bellator MMA](https://www.bellator.com/) promotion, [ESPN](https://www.espn.com/mma/story/_/id/35316600/ufc-hall-famer-stephan-bonnar-dies-age-45) reported. “His fight with Forrest Griffin changed the sport forever, and he will never be forgotten. We send our sincerest condolences to his family and friends.— UFC (@ufc) [American Psycho](https://www.ufc.com/athlete/stephan-bonnar),” Bonnar’s fight against Griffin on April 9, 2005, is regarded as one of the most important fights in mixed martial arts history.

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UFC Hall of Famer Stephan Bonnar Dead at 45: 'He Will Be Missed ... (PEOPLE.com)

Stephan Bonnar died from 'presumed heart complications while at work' at age 45, the UFC said in a news release on Saturday.

RIP to a true pioneer!" "I remember watching him and Forest battling it out and thinking, I gotta try this out. He will be missed." "The fans loved him, related to him and he always gave them his best. "Stephan Bonnar was one of the most important fighters to ever compete in the Octagon," UFC President Dana White said in a statement. [presumed heart complications while at work](https://www.ufc.com/news/stephan-bonnar-1977-2022)," the UFC said in a news release on Saturday.

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UFC Hall of Famer Stephan Bonnar dies at 45 (The Athletic)

UFC Hall of Famer Stephan Bonnar died at the age of 45 from presumed heart complications, the promotion announced on Saturday. Bonnar finished his career ...

There has never been a more important fight than maybe UFC 1 in the history of mixed martial arts.” There has never been a more important fight in the history of the UFC. While Bonnar was a talented mixed martial artist, having faced and beaten many top fighters of his era, he’ll largely be remembered for being one of half of arguably the best fight in MMA history.

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Image courtesy of "UFC"

Stephan Bonnar 1977 - 2022 (UFC)

Remembering the UFC Hall of Famer and The Ultimate Fighter Season 1 Contender Stephan Bonnar.

That was the perfect example of that. I was jogging and someone in a pickup was going ‘Hey Bonnar.’ And everywhere you go, someone knows who you are. It was just a little hobby I was doing, so it changed everything. I was traveling with TapouT and we were in a small town. And that was in the second round. "His fight with Forrest Griffin changed the sport forever, and he will never be forgotten.

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Image courtesy of "Spectrum News 1"

UFC Hall of Famer Stephan Bonnar dead at age 45 (Spectrum News 1)

UFC announced in a statement that Bonnar died Thursday from “presumed heart complications while at work.”

“His fight with Forrest Griffin changed the sport forever, and he will never be forgotten. He will be missed.” He reached the competition’s finale, where he had a spectacular, bloody brawl with Forrest Griffin.

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Stephan Bonnar's tragic death at 45 leaves UFC world in shock (Yahoo Sport Australia)

The UFC world has been left in disbelief after the sudden death of Hall of Fame icon Stephan Bonnar. Read more here.

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Image courtesy of "UPI.com"

Stephan Bonnar of UFC fame dies at 45 (UPI.com)

Stephen Bonnar, who helped popularize UFC in the first season of "The Ultimate Fighter" in 2005, died Thursday. He was 45.

And that was in the second round. I was like 'oooh, this must be good.'" He will be missed."

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Image courtesy of "E! Online"

UFC Hall of Famer Stephan Bonnar Dead at 45 (E! Online)

UFC Hall of Famer and The Ultimate Fighter alum Stephan Bonnar died Dec. 22 from presumed heart complications, the organization shared.

"Stephan Bonnar was one of the most important fighters to ever compete in the Octagon," UFC President Dana White said in a statement Dec. News App](https://eonline.onelink.me/ItsS/1b3e9f57) Those fans fell in love with Bonnar back in 2005 during the first season of The Ultimate Fighter. According to the [organization](https://www.ufc.com/news/stephan-bonnar-1977-2022), his cause of death is from presumed heart complications while he was at work. [Mike Goldberg](https://twitter.com/GoldieOnTV/status/1606887375975895040) tweeted after Bonnar's death, "a loyal friend with a great sense of humor who once took over an entire floor of our hotel in Australia preparing his own kangaroo meal! 22 at age 45](https://www.eonline.com/photos/33755/celebrity-deaths-2022s-fallen-stars).

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Image courtesy of "Associated Press"

UFC Hall of Famer Stephan Bonnar dead at age 45 (Associated Press)

Former fighter Stephan Bonnar, who played a significant role in the UFC's growth into the dominant promotion in mixed martial arts, has died, UFC announced.

“His fight with Forrest Griffin changed the sport forever, and he will never be forgotten. He will be missed.” He reached the competition’s finale, where he had a spectacular, bloody brawl with Forrest Griffin.

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UFC Hall of Famer Stephan Bonnar Dead at 45 (Yahoo Sports)

UFC Hall of Famer and The Ultimate Fighter alum Stephan Bonnar died Dec. 22 from presumed heart complications, the organization shared.

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UFC Hall of Famer Stephan Bonnar dies aged 45 (MARCA.com)

The UFC has announced that Hall of Famer Stephan Bonnar passed away this weekend at the age of 45. Bonnar, who participated in the memorable fight against ...

But the fight was so good that UFC president Dana White also awarded Bonnar a contract. Bonnar named his first son Griffin after his biggest rival, who went on to become a good friend of his. He was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2013. The Griffin vs. Bonnar, who participated in the memorable fight against Forrest Griffin on the finale of the first season of 'The Ultimate Fighter' in 2005, died while at work from suspected heart complications. Bonnar drama, in which the two engaged in a bloody brawl, has long been an example of what the sport of MMA can become, allowing it to forge its own identity separate from other combat sports such as boxing.

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